August 19, 2025 – Madgaon, South Goa:Konkani is not just a language spoken in Goa — it’s a language rich in history, literature, and identity. This was the message echoed by noted linguist Ramesh Gaonkar during the inauguration of the third Official Language Training class for government employees in South Goa.
Held at Madgaon, the session was inaugurated by the Additional District Collector and attended by civil servants and government staff, reaffirming the state’s commitment to the promotion of regional languages in administration.
The training aims to equip government employees with the linguistic skills and confidence to use Konkani in formal communication, moving beyond ceremonial use into functional governance. This initiative also aligns with broader state policies aimed at preserving and promoting Goa’s cultural and linguistic heritage.
With this training class, South Goa continues its efforts to mainstream Konkani as a working language in the government sphere, sending a strong signal about the importance of linguistic identity in public administration.
In a resounding affirmation of cultural pride and linguistic heritage, Director of Art and Culture, Vivek Naik, inaugurated the second batch of Official Language Training for government employees in Goa. The initiative is part of the state’s ongoing effort to integrate Konkani — Goa’s official language — into day-to-day administration and governance.
The Official Language Training program equips government officials with the skills and confidence to use Konkani in written and verbal communication within the administration. The second batch includes employees from various departments who will undergo structured modules covering:
Administrative vocabulary in Konkani
Official correspondence formats
Grammar and usage
Cultural context in communication
The initiative is aimed at ensuring that Konkani is not just ceremonial, but functional and widely used in governance.
Goa has always been a unique cultural mosaic, and the state’s commitment to Konkani as its official language is enshrined in the Constitution. Yet, ensuring its use in everyday governance remains an ongoing challenge.
Naik’s emphasis on language training is a step toward aligning administrative practices with constitutional values and public sentiment. The Department of Art and Culture is playing a key role in mobilising resources, creating curriculum, and generating awareness among officials.
As more government employees are trained in using Konkani professionally, the state moves closer to a fully inclusive, culturally-rooted administration. Beyond efficiency, this initiative nurtures a deep cultural consciousness among public servants.
The Department aims to expand the training further in coming months, involving more departments and reaching rural administrative units where local language usage is vital.
📍 Organising Body: Department of Art and Culture, Goa 🗣️ Speaker: Vivek Naik, Director 📘 Program: Official Language Training for Government Employees
The district and state level rounds of the 24th Shenoi Goembab Kathamal Storytelling Competition, organised by Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM) Goa, will be held on August 10, 2025, at Konkani Bhavan, Margao. The district rounds will begin at 9:00 am, followed by the state round in the afternoon.
A total of 125 contestants, selected from 19 centres across Goa, will participate in the district round. This year, the competition set a new record at the centre level, with 1,226 participants showcasing their storytelling skills on the same day. The highest response came from Dharbandora, Sanguem, Canacona, Sattari, Divchal, Pedne, and Bardez, while the newly introduced centre in Shiroda saw participation from 60 competitors.
“The response to the storytelling competition shows that the importance of the Konkani language is now being understood by the masses,” said Ratnamala Divkar, President of KBM.
The event was made possible with the hard work of coordinators, co-coordinators, co-organisers, and invitees. Ulhas Gaonkar, Chief Coordinator of Kathamal, acknowledged the valuable support from the Department of Education, Goa S.C.E.R.T., and A.D.E.I. offices. Co-coordinator Gaurang Bhandiye highlighted the contribution of 171 judges, 250 volunteers, and joint organising organisations that worked together to ensure the success of the competition.
The Shenoi Goembab Kathamal has become one of Goa’s most awaited cultural events, promoting the love for the Konkani language and the age-old tradition of oral storytelling.
The Shenoi Goembab Storytelling Competition, one of Goa’s largest and most awaited educational events, is back with its 24th edition this 2nd August 2025. Spearheaded by Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM), Goa, and supported by the Directorate of Official Language, Government of Goa, this competition celebrates the timeless tradition of storytelling through the lens of the Konkani language.
Over the years, the competition has grown remarkably in participation and scale. This year, it will be conducted across 19 centers in Goa, including all 12 talukas and extended centers in Shiroda, Cuncolim, Bardez, Margao, Tiswadi, and Ponda. Some schools from Salcete and Quepem are merged with the Cuncolim center due to overwhelming participation.
The storytelling contest is open to students from Classes 1 to 10, divided into three categories:
1st–4th Std: 2–4 minutes
5th–7th Std: 3–5 minutes
8th–10th Std: 4–6 minutes
Participants are free to choose their story themes, and additional winners will be selected in centers with high participation to ensure broader representation.
More than 160 judges and 300 volunteers will be actively engaged in conducting this state-wide literary celebration, reflecting the immense popularity and cultural importance of this event.
This year’s refreshment partner, Monginis, joins hands with KBM to support young minds on their creative journey.
The storytelling competition is not just about winning prizes—it is about fostering language fluency, imagination, and confidence among young students in Goa.
Interested schools and participants can reach out to:
📞 Ulhas Goankar (Coordinator): 9923765741
📞 Gaurang Bhandiye (Co-Coordinator): 8552883808
“Through stories, we preserve culture. Through storytelling, we shape the future.”
For more updates, follow @kbmgoaofficial and @dirlang_goa on social media.
Pune, July 13, 2025: The spirit of unity and linguistic pride echoed through Nigdi, Chinchwad, as the Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad celebrated its Foundation Day with a grand cultural and intellectual gathering. The event brought together language lovers, cultural leaders, and students from various parts of India under one common banner: the celebration and promotion of the Konkani language.
Delivering a powerful keynote address, chief guest Dr. Purnanand Chari questioned the deeper societal divides that persist. “If brothers from rival political parties can unite over the cause of language, then when will we be free from the chains of caste, region, religion, and script?” he asked. Dr. Chari also reminded the audience that Konkani is a language forged in the crucible of struggle and must continue to be nurtured wherever Konkani speakers reside.
Chairing the event, Melvyn Rodrigues, convenor of the Konkani Board at the Sahitya Akademi, highlighted the importance of individual responsibility in linguistic preservation. “If each person does their duty toward their language, no force can prevent its progress,” he said.
The ceremony included a heartfelt tribute to Late Rocky Miranda, who was posthumously conferred the Madhav Manjunath Shanbhag Lifetime Achievement Award. Accepting the award in the Miranda family’s absence, H. M. Pernal received it from Rodrigues on their behalf.
Prominent personalities such as Vijayanand Gaitonde, Dr. Vaman Naik, Isidore Dantas, Alfi Monteiro, and Dr. Ashwini Kulkarni were honoured with Kunbi shawls and mementoes for their contributions to various fields within the Konkani cultural sphere.
The event included a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Unity of Konkani People in India”, featuring speakers Titus Noronha, Anant Agni, and Remson Vaz, moderated by Ganadhish Prabhudesai.
The program was beautifully interspersed with cultural performances. Konkani songs were rendered by Gayatri Patil, Laxman Naik, and Rishabh Sathe, with musical support from Manohar Tamankar. The event was anchored by Govind Mopkar, Saisha Desai, and Anish Agni, while Sneha Sabnis, secretary of the Parishad, delivered the vote of thanks.
Co-organiser and Director of City Pride School, Dr. Deepali Sawai, expressed deep gratitude for hosting the event and reaffirmed her school’s support for future Konkani-related programs.
The Foundation Day served not only as a moment of celebration but also as a call to action — to preserve and elevate the Konkani language and community across states and generations.
